I was under the impression that it was completely fine. I have always operated under the principle of "avoiding contact" whether that is by a non-malicious slide, or a dive, or a jump away, etc.
However, I was reading National Federation Safety Rules as written on ETeamz.com (found at:
http://eteams.com/baseball/rules/fed/safety/ ) and one rule really caught my eye.
About half-way down the page, there are two "rules" written.
Quote:
Runner dives over fielder: A runner may not dive over a fielder. Penalty: The runner is out, but the ball remains alive unless the umpire calls interference.
Runner hurdles fielder: A runner may not hurdle, jump over, or leap over a fielder unless the fielder is lying prone on the ground. Penalty: The runner is out, but the ball remains alive unless the umpire calls interference. Note: Jumping over a kneeling fielder is illegal.
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So, for the Babe Ruth game following Official Baseball Rules, it would still be legal. But, it appears in FED it would be illegal. Maybe that is what the Umpire was thinking of.
But, looking through my rule book, I couldn't find any reference to the safety rules. Maybe they would they be in the officials manual or case book?